2018 Golden Slipper Nominations Attract Record Numbers

Early entries of yearlings for the Golden Slipper Stakes 2018 next Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival have followed the trend set by the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond nominations attracting a record number of hopefuls.

2017 Golden Slipper Stakes winner She Will Reign was the fourth filly in the past decade to beat home the boys in the Group 1 autumn classic. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) last week announced the $1.5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), to run at Caulfield in late February, drew 1470 yearlings.

On Friday the Australian Turf Club (ATC) followed with the announcement the world’s richest race for juveniles – the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) to run on March 24, 2018 – received 2197 nominees.

At the same time last season Golden Slipper nominations for this year’s race, won by superstar filly She Will Reign (2017), featured 2091 rising two-year-olds.

“The increase in nominations further highlights the significance of the race for the thoroughbred industry,” ATC’s Chief Executive Officer Darren Pearce said.

“The Longines Golden Slipper is the race every owner, trainer, jockey and breeder dreams of winning and the 2017 winner She Will Reign proved this in every way for one of the largest ownership groups we have seen on a Sydney racecourse.

“It is also very pleasing to see the number of nominations from NSW grow by 140 horses which further highlights the current strength and confidence in the NSW racing industry.”

Since 2010, four fillies have defeated the colts and geldings in the Golden Slipper Stakes results and there are currently 1052 entered to continue the trend next autumn.

The powerhouse Godolphin stable boast the highest number of Golden Slipper 2018 nominated yearlings with 152 early entries.

Their last win in the two-years-old classic was under the Darley Australia banner when Peter Snowden prepared Sepoy for success in 2011.

Snowden went into subsequent training partnership with his son Paul and won the 2016 Golden Slipper with Capitalist, and Snowden Racing are in with 74 entries this season.

Leading 2018 Golden Slipper Stakes Nominators

Godolphin (152)

Lindsay Park (111)

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (90)

Chris Waller (87)

Peter & Paul Snowden (74)

Tony McEvoy (61)

Ciaron Maher (61)

The other best represented nominator with 111 possible contenders is the David Hayes-led LindsayPark stable from Victoria.

Hayes enjoyed a Golden Slipper win over a decade ago with gun filly Miss Finland (2006) who went on to complete that year’s Thousand Guineas – Victorian Oaks double.

Sydney’s Gai Waterhouse has six Golden Slipper trophies in the cabinet and is back in the mix again with 90 entries she co-trains with her former racing manager Adrian Bott.

Waterhouse last trained a Golden Slipper Stakes champion with Vancouver back in 2005, the colt also the last favourite to salute for the punters.